Opinion
CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:12-955
05-24-2012
ANDREA PETROSKI, Plaintiff, v. KMART CORP., KMART CORP. c/o CT CORP., and SEARS HOLDING CORP., Defendants.
(JUDGE CAPUTO)
MEMORANDUM
Presently before the Court is the Notice of Removal filed by Defendants Kmart Corporation and Sears Holding Corporation. (Doc. 1.) Because the Notice of Removal fails to establish that this Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the action, it will be remanded to state court unless Defendants can show that diversity jurisdiction is proper.
I. Background
Plaintiff originally filed this action in the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania on or about April 24, 2012. (Doc. 1, Ex. A.) In her Complaint, Plaintiff brings a state-law claim for negligence against Defendants for injuries sustained by Plaintiff on December 9, 2011. (Id. ¶¶ 7-10.)
On May 22, 2012, Defendants removed the action to this Court. (Doc. 1.) In the Notice of Removal, Defendants aver that Plaintiff "is a resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and resides at 235 Lee Park Avenue, Hanover Township, Luzerne County, PA 18702." (Id. ¶ 6a.) Defendant Kmart Corporation is averred to be "a Michigan corporation, with its principal place of business located at 3333 Beverly Road, Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60179." (Id. ¶ 6b.) And, Defendant Sears Holding Corporation is averred to be "a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business located at 3333 Beverly Road, Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60179." (Id. ¶ 6c.)
II. Discussion
Federal courts have an obligation to address issues of subject matter jurisdiction sua sponte. Meritcare Inc. v. St. Paul Mercury Ins. Co., 166 F.3d 214, 217 (3d Cir. 1999). Defendants allege that this Court's basis for jurisdiction is diversity of citizenship pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332. Section 1332(a)(1) gives district courts original jurisdiction to hear cases where the matter in controversy exceeds the value of seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) and is between citizens of different states. In order for jurisdiction to exist, there must be complete diversity, meaning that each defendant must be a citizen of a different state from each plaintiff. Owen Equip. & Erection Co. v. Kroger, 437 U.S. 365, 373 (1978). Of course, "[t]he person asserting jurisdiction bears the burden of showing that the case is properly before the court at all stages of the litigation." Packard v. Provident Nat'l Bank, 994 F.2d 1039, 1045 (3d Cir. 1993).
"It is . . . well established that when jurisdiction depends upon diverse citizenship the absence of sufficient averments or of facts in the record showing such required diversity of citizenship is fatal and cannot be overlooked by the court, even if the parties fail to call attention to the defect, or consent that it may be waived." Thomas v. Bd. of Trs., 195 U.S. 207, 211 (1904). Moreover, "[w]hen the foundation of federal authority is, in a particular instance, open to question, it is incumbent upon the courts to resolve such doubts, one way or the other, before proceeding to a disposition of the merits." Carlsberg Res. Corp. v. Cambria Sav. & Loan Ass'n, 554 F.2d 1254, 1256 (3d Cir. 1977); see also Fed R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3).
For purposes of diversity jurisdiction, a natural person is deemed to be a citizen of the state where she is domiciled. Swiger v. Allegheny Energy, Inc., 540 F.3d 179, 182 (3d Cir.2008) (citing Gilbert v. David, 235 U.S. 561, 569, 35 S.Ct. 164, 59 L.Ed. 360 (1915)). To be domiciled in a state, a person must reside there and intend to remain indefinitely. Krasnov v. Dinan, 465 F.2d 1298, 1300-01 (3d Cir.1972). A person may have only one domicile, and thus may be a citizen of only one state for diversity jurisdiction purposes. See Williamson v. Osenton, 232 U.S. 619, 34 S.Ct. 442, 58 L.Ed. 758 (1914).
To the extent that the Notice of Removal alleges that Plaintiff is a "resident" of Pennsylvania, this is not sufficient. Residence is not the same as domicile and does not establish citizenship for diversity purposes. See Krasnov, 465 F.2d at 1300 (3d Cir.1972) ("Where one lives is prima facie evidence of domicile, but mere residency in a state is insufficient for purposes of diversity") (internal citations omitted). The Court therefore finds that the Notice of Removal has not properly demonstrated Plaintiff's citizenship for the purposes of diversity jurisdiction.
III. Conclusion
For the above stated reasons, the Notice of Removal fails to adequately establish the diversity of the parties. As Defendants have not shown that complete diversity of citizenship exists between the parties, the Court cannot determine that subject matter jurisdiction exists and the matter is subject to dismissal pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(h)(3). However, where "removal is based on allegations of diversity jurisdiction and diversity jurisdiction appears to exist in light of other documents in the record, courts in this district have allowed defendants to amend a notice of removal to correct technical deficiencies in the notice's allegations regarding citizenship of a party." Zia Zhao v. Skinner Engine Co., No. 11-7514, 2012 WL 1758145 (E.D. Pa. May 16, 2012).As such, Defendants will be given twenty-one (21) days in which to file an amended notice of removal to properly allege the citizenship of Plaintiff. Failure to do so will result in this action being remanded to the Court of Common Please of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
Specifically, Plaintiff's Complaint alleges that "Andrea Petroski is an adult citizen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania." (Doc. 1, Ex. 1, ¶ 1.)
An appropriate order follows.
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A. Richard Caputo
United States District Judge